A&E greenlights four unscripted originals

US cablenet A&E is continuing to move away from scripted programming by greenlighting four original factual series on subjects including mental health illnesses, juvenile criminal justice, crime and employment.

Elaine Frontain Bryant

Elaine Frontain Bryant, executive VP and head of programming at the A+E Networks-owned channel and exec producer of all the new programmes, said the network had been “leading the reality revolution.”

Among the new commissions, which all have working titles, is Many Sides of Jane (6×60’), produced by Entertainment One-owned Renegade 83. It tells the story of a 28-year-old woman with dissociative identity disorder (aka multiple personality disorder), whose nine personalities can appear at any time, often triggered by stress.

The show is exec produced by Renegade 83 founders Jay Renfroe and David Garfinkle, and the company’s Erica Hanson, alongside Shelly Tatro, Brad Abramson and Frontain Bryant for A&E.

IPC Television-produced Lost for Life (8×60’) centres on juveniles who, sentenced to life in prison without parole for murder, are having their cases re-evaluated thanks to a recent Supreme Court ruling. It is exec produced by IPC Television’s Eli Holzman Aaron Saidman and Peter LoGreco, alongside Amy Savitsky and Evan Lerner for A&E.

The Accused, produced by UK indie Brinkworth Films, gives insights into what happens when someone is accused of a crime they believe they have not committed and the personal cost of every charge to the defendant, their family and legal teams. Malcolm Brinkworth and Xander Brinkworth exec produce for Brinkworth Films, and Tatro and Brad Holcman for A&E.

Also on the slate is 8×60’ series Employable Me, which focuses on people with mental disabilities and the extra difficulties they face trying to get a job.

The format, which originally appeared on Channel 4 in the UK, aims to help such people, who often have unique skills, to find employment and gain new independence. It is produced by All3Media-owned Optomen Productions and exec produced by Ricky Kelehar, Maria Silver and Joseph Eardly, plus Tatro and Holcman for Optomen and A&E respectively.

In related news, A&E has renewed its hit exposé series Leah Remini: Scientology & the Aftermath for a third season.